Pool-ball rack and triangle.



J. E. NITKEY.

POOL BALL RACK AND TRIANGLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1916:

Patented May 22, 1917.

A TTOHN E Y 8 WITNESSES /Lmwkfll,

POOL-BALL BACK AND TRIANGLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. NITKEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Harrison, in the county of Kootenaiand State of Idaho, have invented anew and Improved Pool-Ball Rack and Triangle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to racks for pool balls and has for an object the provision of an improved rack structure combined with a triangle structure whereby by a proper movement of the combined device the balls may move from the rack structure into the triangle structure and be properly and quickly assembled. on the table. I 7

Another object in view is to provide a rack which is arranged with a plurality of shelves or slats for receiving the balls of different players and automatically causing ,the same to assume the proper position for discharging when the balls are to be rearranged or again placed upon the table.

A still further object in view is to provide a rack with inclined slats and a triangular member connected to the rack by. the same hinge that connects the parts of the rack together, the arrangement being such that when the parts of the rack are spread to their full extent the triangular member will be fully and properly exposedand will automatically receive the balls from the slats by reason of the slant thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a rack arranged on a shelf, the rack showing an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the rack with the rack sections spread apart.

Fig. 3 is a section through Fig. 1 approximately on line 33.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 3 on line 44.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a slightly modified form of the device, the device being shown suspended by a pin.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 and 2 indicate the rack sections, which sections are provided with hinge members 3 and 4 having interlocking barrels for accommodating the pintle 5, members 3, 4 and 5 forming a complete hinge and connecting the sections 1 and 2 together. A plate 6 is provided with an aperture and accommodates the pintle 5, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the triangle 7 is pivotally connected Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed June 3, 1916. Serial No. 101,465.

to the rack sections. The triangle 7 is provided with side members 8 and 9 connected to an end block 10, which end block is connected tothe plate 6 while the opposite ends of the sides 8 and 9 are connected to corner blocks 11 and 12, said corner blocks being connected by a transverse section 13 having a turned up edge 14 preventing the accidental removal of any of the balls. The blocks 11 and 12 together with the transverse member 13 may be formed of one piece or of independent pieces as desired provided aspace between the members 8, 9 and 13 form a proper triangle for receivingthe correct number of balls.

The rack is provided with slots 15 and 16 for accommodating the end member 10 and blocks 11 and 12, whileslot 16 merges into an enlarged slot 17 for accommodating the turned-up cdgel4 of member 13. As shown in Fig. 2 the slots 15, 16 and 17 are arranged 'in the side member 18 of'the rack and the turn'are connected to an outside member 21.

Members 18 and 21 are provided with slots or grooves in which the slats or shelves 22 are positioned for receiving the balls, as shownin Fig. 3. It will be observed that these slats are arranged at an incline so that they may readily g ravitate to a position within the triangle when the sections are opened as shown in Fig. 2, thus not requiring anoperator to touch the balls after taking a rack down from its support as shown in Fig. 1. It is evident that any kind of a support may be used and, if desired, the pintle 5 may be provided with a turned-up hook member 23 for passing over the pin 24 so that the rackmay be held in a vertical position. When the rack is held in a vertical position the slats 22 must be spaced farther apart or a. slightly modified form of slat 22 must be used, which last mentioned slat is shown in:

Fig. 5 and is formed with a curved upper face 25 so that the balls may readily rest thereon.

When the rack'is on a support of any kind, as for instance, on a hook or on the bracket 26, the same, if desired, may be supplied with a hook and eye structure 27 for holding the sections 1 and 2 in Contact. When in this position the players may place the balls on their respective slats from time to time and when a game is finished the balls will'all be properly arranged ready to be discharged into the triangle-7 without any additional work or assembling. It is of course evident that the rack could be made of any size so that any desired number of players may use the same, five slats in each section being 'shownin the drawing merely for the purpose of illustration.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, arack formed into two parts, a triangular member, and a single member for pivotally connecting said parts together and to said triangular member.

2. In a device of the character described, a rack provided with a pair of hinged sections, a triangular member arranged with the sides between the sides of said sections whereby the sides ofthe triangle limit the opening movement of the sections, and means for .pivotally connecting said sections together.

3. In a combined rack and triangle, a pair of rack sections hinged together at one end, each of said sections being provided with slats for acting as supports for balls, and a triangular member connected with said rack and arranged so that the transverse bar thereof slidingly fits in two adjacent sides of said sections, whereby whenever said sections are pulled apart the triangle will be disclosed and the balls from their slats will be permitted to roll into the triangle.

l. In a combined rack and triangle, a pair of rack sections, the adjacent sides of said sections having a slot cut in each end, a hinge member for connecting said sections together, said hinge member being arranged at one end of the sections, a triangle arranged with its sides interior-1y of the adjacent sides of said sections, the cross bar of the triangle extending through one pair of slots while the apex of the triangle extends through the other of said slots, and means extending from the triangle engaging the pintle of the hinge connecting said sections together, whereby when said sections are separated a triangular space will be formed of the proper size for receiving the balls from their sections.

5. In a device of the character described, a triangle provided with a transverse bar having an edge extending upwardly an appreciable distance for acting as a guide for guiding balls into the triangle at the apex, said rack being formed with inclined slots for directing the balls to said triangle, and means for holding said sections together when the same are used as a rack.

6. In a device of the character described, a rack formed in two sections, said sections being rectangular, a hinge connected to one corner of each of said sections so that the sections may be swung back and forth thereon to an open or closed position, and a triangle connected with the hinge that connects said sections together, said triangle having the sides arranged between the sides of the respective sections whereby the opening movement of the sections is limited by the sides of the triangle, said sections being formed with slats arranged to direct balls to the triangle when the sections are moved to an. open position. a

7. In a device'of the character described a rack divided into parts, means for pivotally connecting said parts together at one point, one side of each of said parts acting as two sides of the triangle, and means associated with said parts for acting as the end of the triangle.

8. In a device of the character described, a rack divided into two equal parts, a hinge for connecting said parts together at one end so that the parts may be swung together or away from each other and-thereby produce an angular open space therebetween, and a triangular-shaped member connected-to said parts by said hinge, said triangular-shaped member having sides fitting within the parts and an end member adapted to connect said partswhen the parts are separated for producing a triangle, said triangle being in the path of movement of the balls rolling from JOHN E. NITKEY.

. said parts.

copl es otthl s patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patentn. Washington, I). C. 

